Yokohama - Tokyo's Popular Neighbor

Yokohama is a port city with scenic and historical locations in the Kanagawa prefecture. Being close to Tokyo, it has been a popular sightseeing destination for decades.

In this article, we will introduce you to the most popular areas in Yokohama and tell you how to get to Yokohama Station from Tokyo. Let's go!

How to Get to Yokohama from Tokyo

It is approximately a thirty-minute train ride from central Tokyo to Yokohama station. From Tokyo Station, the Ueno Tokyo Tokaido Line, the Yokosuka Line, and the Keihin Tohoku Line are all going to Yokohama station. From Shibuya, you can take the Tokyu Toyoko Line to go to Yokohama. Neither of these options requires any transfers and all of them take about thirty minutes to Yokohama. For more information about how to get to Yokohama by train, please read What’s the Most Convenient Fare?! How to Get to Yokohama from Tokyo

Trains and buses run frequently in Yokohama, so you can conveniently tour around the city without needing a car or taxi.

2. Minato Mirai

Minato Mirai offers with galleries, the Landmark Tower, Cosmo World and the Anpanman Museum (Japanese). You can also enjoy the gorgeous night scenery from one of the many tall commercial buildings observatories.

Minato Mirai is also known to be a great shopping spot. The building in the picture above is the popular Red Brick Warehouse. It houses shops and restaurants and varity of special exhibitions throughout the year.

The closest station here is Minato Mirai station on the Minato Mirai line or Sakuragicho station on the JR Negishi line. Both are only three minutes on the train from Yokohama station.

3. Yamashita Park

Yamashita Park was the first seaside park in Japan build after the big Tokyo Earthquake of 1923. It is known for its beautiful flowers and the scenic view of the Tokyo Bay and Yokohama Bay bridge. If you visit during the spring and autumn, you can enjoy Yamashita Park's beautiful rose garden in full bloom. This area is also well-known for its elegant, well-established restaurants and cafes.

The closest station to the park is the Motomachi Chukagai station on the Minato Mirai line or the Ishikawacho station on the JR Negishi line. Both are an eight-minute train ride from Yokohama station.

4. Motomachi and Yamate

Motomachi and Yamate house the Foreign General Cemetery and the British House. The British House is a designated cultural property of Yokohama originally built in 1937. This area with its many retro western buildings also inspired the Studio Ghibli movie "From up on Poppy Hill" and has become a famous sightseeing spot for Ghibli fans.

The "Minato no Mieru Oka Park" overlooks Yokohama and is a popular place for picnics and weekend trips.

Along the 150-year-old Motomachi shopping street, you will find traditional and trendy shops side by side. This street is also supposed to be the street featured in yet another Studio Ghibli movie, "The Cat Returns".

The closest station is Motomachi Chukagai station on the Minato Mirai line or Ishikawacho station on the JR Negishi line. Both are an eight-minute train ride from Yokohama station.

5. Kannai and Bashamichi

Kannai and Bashamichi are historical areas of Yokohama where western-style buildings from a hundred years ago still remain. In this area, visitors encounter many brick streets and gas lamps from the time when Japan first opened the country to the western world and non-Japanese people began to reside in Yokohama.

The closest station is Kannai station on the JR Negishi line and the Yokohama city subway, also known as the Blue line. Both are a five-minute ride from Yokohama station.

6. Sakuragicho, Noge, and Isezakicho

These areas are known to have many restaurants, bars, and izakayas where you can enjoy a great variety of food and drinks.

Close to Sakuragicho station are two major shopping facilities, CIAL Sakuragicho and TOC Minato Mirai. Inside the TOC Minato Mirai building, you can find shops, a cinema, a hotel, a fitness club as well as offices which makes for a little city in itself.

The closest station is Kannai station and Sakuragicho Station on the JR Negishi line and the Yokohama city subway. Both are a five minute ride from the Yokohama station.

7. Yokohama Station

Yokohama Station area offers several popular shopping spots. There are many department stores, fashion boutiques, electric shops, and Don Quijote in walking distance from the station. Yokohama Bay Quarter is a large shopping mall that is connected to the station. Many people visit this spot to have breakfast or lunch at one of its restaurants or cafes before exploring the rest of Yokohama.

The closest station is Yokohama Station on the JR line and Tokyu Toyoko line.

8. Shin Yokohama

Shin Yokohama is home to large stadiums such as the Yokohama arena and Nissan stadium. However, it is also extremely well known to ramen lovers due to it's. Shin Yokohama Ramen museum. If you are not in ramen mood, Cubic Plaza Shin Yokohama, a shopping mall that is connected to Shin Yokohama Station, is known also known to offer all sorts of delicious dishes from all over the world.

The closest station is Shin Yokohama station on the JR Yokohama line and Yokohama city subway (the Blue line). Both are a ten-minute ride from Yokohama station.

9. Kanazawa

Kanazawa is a town by the sea, located on the northern side of Yokohama. It is known for its Hakkeijima Sea Paradise Aquarium and Amusement Park. Because of its close proximity to the ocean, the sushi, sashimi, and seafood restaurants in the area are highly recommended as well.

The closest station is Kanazawa Hakkei station on the Keikyu mainline. It is a thirty-minute ride from Yokohama station.

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Souvenirs from Yokohama

In Yokohama, you will find many small items with boat or port designs. You will also find some delicious sweets unique to the area that make for great souvenirs or a treat for yourself. Find out more about souvenirs from Yokohama in The 6 Best Sweet Souvenirs From The Port City, Yokohama.